Driving eyesight rules: the winter myths that catch drivers out

The most dangerous belief a driver can hold this month is that they would notice if their eyesight slipped below the legal standard. In my view, most would not.

Myth one: you would know. Aviva says sight often changes gradually, and its personal lines chief executive, Owen Morris, said regular eye tests can help identify changes that occur gradually over time. Nobody wakes up on the day they cross the line.

Myth two: dark evenings are only a little harder. Aviva analysed more than 545,000 of its motor collision claims and found poor sight was cited in around 15 per cent more claims in the winter months than across the year as a whole. Winter, in that analysis, means November to February. We have just walked into it.

There is no routine eyesight retest for car drivers, which in my view puts the whole job on the person holding the wheel.

Myth three: the car will cover for you. Morris said vehicle technology should never be seen as a substitute for being able to see clearly. Aviva also found only 41 per cent of drivers have blind spot detection.

Myth four runs the other way: that wearing glasses means telling DVLA. Under the GOV.UK driving eyesight rules, you must tell DVLA about an eyesight problem affecting both eyes, but being short or long sighted does not count.

What the law does ask is plain enough. You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres, and if you need glasses or contact lenses to do that, you must wear them every time you drive. Drive without meeting the standard and you could be prosecuted.

One practical tip. This weekend, in daylight, stand on your own street and try to read a parked car’s number plate from about five car lengths away, and if you struggle, book an eye test before the next dark commute.